Washing machine



Nov. 27, 1934.

E. DAvls 1,982,499

WASHING MACHINE -f Filed Nov. 16, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. DAVIS WASHINGMACHINE Nov. 27, 1934.

Filed NOV. 16, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A m i Patented Nov. 27, 1934 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to improvements in washingmachines and the main object is to provide a machine includingcooperating agitator and tub of novel form and shape designed to washclothes quickly and efficiently without tangling or tearing the mostdelicate fabrics.

Another object is to provide in a washer of this kind an improved formof agitator including a radially ribbed or corrugated head plate, aknobl0 like centrally located head on the underside of the head plate,and depended radially extended wings on the head plate and head, thesaid wings being rounded and ared outwardly to form lobes at their outerends.

A further object is to provide in combination with an agitator as abovea complementarily formed tub in which the lower peripheral marginthereof is built up and brought adjacent the lobes of the agitator wingsto enhance their agitating and washing action on the clothes in the tub.

With the foregoing and other objects in view the invention resides inthe novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully setforth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawingswherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a washer tub constructed inaccordance with my invention and provided with my improved agitator.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section along the line 2--2 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through a modified form of tub, theagitator not being shown in this view.

Figure 4 is an inverted plan view of my improved agitator.

Figure 5 is a section along the line 5-5 in Figure 1.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawings the referencecharacter A designates a washer tub having a removable hinged top Bthrough 'which is centrally journaled an agitator shaft C adapted to berotated by a gear D and rack E. The foregoing parts are all conventionalin their construction, arrangement and operation and no inventiontherefor is claimed herein. Preferably the agitator shaft C is providedwith a ball bearing race 6 where it passes through the tub top B insteadof the plain bearing usually employed.

My improved form of agitator, rotor or dolly is designated generally at7 and comprises a large circular head plate 8 provided on its intendedupper side with a centrally located hub 9 adapted to be rigidly securedas by a set screw 10 to the lower end of the agitator` shaft C to berotated thereby and supported in a horizontal plane slightly below saidtub top B. A large rounded knob-like head 11 is formed or securedcentrally on the underside of the head plate 8 and tapers downwardly andperipherally to its rounded lower end 12 as shown. Four, moregor less,equally spaced and radially extended vanes br wings 13 are then extendedfrom this head 11 outward on and at right angles to the lower face ofthe head plate, said wings first tapering in vertical width or heightadjacent the head as at 14 and being then widened to form rounded lobes15 adjacent their outer ends. Preferably the head plate 8, head 11 andvanes 13 are all cast integrally of some rustless and stainless materialsuch as aluminum but any other form of construction or material may beemployed as desired. Between the vanes 13 the under side of the headplate 8 is provided with radially extended grooves forming radial ribsor corrugations 16 and in similar 75 manner the sides of the head l1 aregrooved and ribbed or ridged as shown at 17. The vanes 13 are relativelythin through their greater part as shown in Figure 5 but have theirmargins rolled, beaded or thickened as designated at 18 for 80strengthening purposes as well as to enhance their washing action andengagement with the clothes in the tub A.

In the ordinary tub there is a tendency for the clothes to work down inthe corner F formed at the peripheral junction between the lower ends ofthe tub at the bottom G. In order to prevent this disadvantageous actionand to bring the clothes nearer to thelobes 15 of .the vanes 13 Iprovide an annular, inwardly and downwardly sloping false bottom 19around the margin of the tub and made up of 'a number of tapered, tongueand grooved boards 20 secured at their outer ends at 21 to the tub sidesabove its bottom G and extended inwardly and downwardly to the saidbottom and secured thereto by their inner ends -as at 22. I'he bottom ofthe tub is thus dish or cup shaped as shown and it will be thedownwardly and outwardly 4ex hanging formation of the vane lobes 16brings 100 them into relatively close juxtaposition with the bottom ofthe tub and resuts in a substantially even space between the tub andagitatorzboth beneath and around the agitator. To this end the oted thatnding or lower end 12 of the head 11 drops somewhat below 105 the levelof the vane lobes 13 resulting in a somewhat tapered or conical shape ofthe agitator substantially complemental to the bottom of the tub asprovided with the sloping false bottom 19.

The agitator isy rotated in usual manner and no gyrates and agitates theclothes and water in the tub to rid' the clothes of dirt. In addition tothis normal and substantially conventional action the corrugations orribs 16 and 17 on the head plate 8 and head 11 rub the clothes free ofdirt. The cooperating near relationship formed between the vane lobes 15and false bottom 19 as described prevents the clothes from working downinto the corner F and becoming rolled, tangled and torn therein and thisjuxtaposition between the lobes and bottom thus results in the clothesbeing carried continuously around in the tub and washed quickly andefficiently without tearing or tangling. One of the boards 20 making upthe false bottom 19 may have a drain opening 23 through which the watermay be drained out through the usual tub drain H.

It will be noted that a conventional form of washer may be readilyimproved and equipped with my invention simply by replacing the usualdolly (not shown) with my improved agitator 7 and then mounting orplacing the false bottom 19 in the tub. Where the form of false bottom19 made up of the boards Z0 would be in any way undesirable a separatecup or dish shaped metal'false tub as designated at 24 in Figure 3 maybe set down into the washer tub A and secured theretoaround its upperedge 25 by screws or nails 26. A suitable drain and plug are provided inthe false tub as at 27. This false tub 24 has rounded shallow corners orbottom as at 28 and brings the clothes into proper` and desiredengagement with the agitator in the manner desired. The agitator 'l andits shaft C may be either hand or power driven and the shaft may extendeither through the top as shown or upward through the bottom (not shown)It is thought that further details of the utility and advantages of myinvention will be understood without further description herein andwhile I have set forth certain preferred members and methods ofassembling and constructing the elements of my invention it isunderstood that I may vary from the same in minor details so as best toconstruct a practical device for the purposes intended, not departingfrom the spirit of the invention and Within the scope of the appendedclaim.

I claim:

In a washer agitator, a circular head plate, a centrally d'sposed anddepended rounded head on the head plate, a plurality of radiallydisposed vanes on the underside of the head plate extending from thehead outward, the said vanes having widened rounded lobes adjacent theirouter ends, and the said head plate and head having radial spaced ribsbetween each pair of the vanes.

- EMMA DAVIS.

